Method of programming a load control device

ABSTRACT

A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 13/538,615, filed on Jun. 29, 2012, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/503,292, filedon Jun. 30, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein inits entirety.

This application is related to commonly assigned U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/538,555, filed Jun. 29, 2012, entitled LOAD CONTROL DEVICEHAVING INTERNET CONNECTIVITY; and to commonly assigned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/538,665, filed Jun. 29, 2012, entitled METHOD OFOPTICALLY TRANSMITTING DIGITAL INFORMATION FROM A SMART PHONE TO ACONTROL DEVICE, the contents of each are hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a load control device for controllingthe amount of power delivered to an electrical load, and moreparticularly, to a wall-mounted dimmer switch that is operable toconnect to the Internet via a wireless connection and to control alighting load in response to messages received via the Internet.

Description of the Related Art

A load control device may be adapted to be coupled in a serieselectrical connection between an alternating-current (AC) power sourceand an electrical load for control of the power delivered from the ACpower source to the electrical load. Prior art load control devicesinclude, for example, lighting control devices (such as wall-mounteddimmer switches and plug-in lamp dimmers), motor control devices (formotor loads), temperature control devices, motorized window treatments,and remote controls. Some load control devices are operable to transmitand receive wireless signals, such as radio-frequency (RF) or infrared(IR) signals, to thus provide for wireless control of the correspondingloads. One example of an RF lighting control system is disclosed incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,442, issued May 18, 1999, entitledMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND DETERMINING THE STATUS OFELECTRICAL DEVICES FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS, the entire disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

There is a need for a wireless load control device that is operable toconnect to the Internet via a wireless connection and to control orprogram a lighting load in response to messages received from a wirelessdevice (e.g., received via the Internet). It would be particularlydesirable if such load control device were operable to be controlled orprogrammed from a Wi-Fi enabled control device, such as a smart phone(for example, an iPhone® or Android® smart phone).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a load controldevice may be implemented to control power delivered from an AC powersource to an electrical load. The load control device may include acontrollably conductive device, a controller, and a near-fieldcommunications (NFC) module. The controllably conductive device may beadapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the sourceand the load. The controller may be operatively coupled to a controlinput of the controllably conductive device for rendering thecontrollably conductive device conductive and non-conductive. The NFCmodule may be operatively coupled to the controller. The NFC may beoperable to receive at least one NFC signal for programming operatingparameters of the load control device. The controller may be operable tocontrol the controllably conductive device to control the powerdelivered to the load based on the operating parameters of the loadcontrol device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the load controldevice may include a controllably conductive device, a controller, andan Internet Protocol communications module. The controllably conductivedevice may be adapted to be coupled in series electrical connectionbetween the source and the load. The controller may be operativelycoupled to the controllably conductive device for controlling thecontrollably conductive device. The Internet Protocol communicationsmodule may be operatively coupled to the controller. The InternetProtocol communications module may be operable to receive an InternetProtocol packet for programming the load control device. The controllermay be operable to control the controllably conductive device based onthe programming of the load control device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the load controldevice may include a controllably conductive device, a controller, andan optical module. The controllably conductive device may be adapted tobe coupled in series electrical connection between the source and theload. The controller may be operatively coupled to a control input ofthe controllably conductive device for rendering the controllablyconductive device conductive and non-conductive. The optical module maybe operatively coupled to the controller. The optical module may beoperable to receive an optical signal for programming operatingparameters of the load control device. The controller may be operable tocontrol the controllably conductive device to control the powerdelivered to the load based on the optical signal programming of theload control device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a load controlsystem is described for controlling power delivered from an AC powersource to an electrical load. The load control system may include a loadcontrol device and a smart phone. The load control device may be adaptedto be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and theload for controlling the power delivered to the load. The load controldevice may store one or more operating parameters. The smart phone mayinclude a visual display for providing a user interface for adjustingthe one or more operating parameters of the load control device. Thesmart phone may be operable to directly transmit operating parameters tothe load control device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lighting controldevice may be programmed using a wireless control device. The wirelesscontrol device may include a visual display and/or a camera. Thelighting control device may be operable to adjust the intensity of alighting load. The lighting load may be purchased in packaging having abarcode. The barcode of the packaging of the lighting load may bescanned using the camera of the wireless control device. The wirelesscontrol device may determine an operating parameter for the lightingload using information received from the scanned barcode. A digitalmessage may be transmitted that includes the operating parameter to thelighting control device. The operating parameter may be stored in thelighting control device in response to the lighting control devicereceiving the digital message.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lightingcontrol device may be operable to adjust the intensity of a lightingload by transmitting a first digital message from a wireless controldevice when the camera of the wireless control device is directed at thelighting load. The intensity of the lighting load may be adjusted to afirst intensity in response to the lighting control device receiving thefirst digital message. The intensity of the lighting load may bedecreased from the first intensity while the camera of the wirelesscontrol device is directed at the lighting load. A second digitalmessage may be transmitted from the wireless control device to thelighting control device when the wireless control device detectsflickering of the intensity of the lighting load. The intensity of thelighting load may be increased in response to the lighting controldevice receiving the second digital message. A third digital message maybe transmitted from the wireless control device to the lighting controldevice when the wireless control device does not detecting flickering inthe intensity of the lighting control device. The adjustment of theintensity of the lighting load may be ceased in response to the lightingcontrol device receiving the third digital message, such that theintensity of the lighting load is at a second intensity. The secondintensity may be stored as a low-end intensity of the lighting controldevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail in the followingdetailed description with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simple diagram of a radio-frequency (RF) lighting controlsystem comprising a dimmer switch and a wireless control device, such asa smart phone, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an example screenshot that may be provided on the wirelesscontrol device for controlling the dimmer switch of the RF lightingcontrol system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an example screenshot that may be provided on the wirelesscontrol device for programming the dimmer switch of the RF lightingcontrol system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of the dimmer switch of the RFlighting control system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the wireless control device showing an examplelocation of a portion of a display screen that may be used to transmitoptical signals;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the display screen of the wirelesscontrol device directed towards an optical receiver of the dimmer switchwhile the wireless control device is transmitting the optical signals;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a camera lens and a camera flashlight source of the wireless control device directed towards the opticalreceiver of the dimmer switch according to an example embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the wireless control device showing an exampletargeting image for assisting in lining up the camera lens and thecamera flash light source with the optical receiver of the dimmer switchaccording to an example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an example embodimentfor optically programming or controlling the dimmer switch via thewireless control device;

FIG. 10 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an example embodimentfor programming or controlling the dimmer switch via a Wi-Fi signal;

FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram of a dimmer switch according to analternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an example embodimentfor programming or controlling the dimmer switch via near fieldcommunication (NFC) signals;

FIG. 13 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating another exampleembodiment for programming the dimmer switch via the NFC signals;

FIG. 14 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating another exampleembodiment for programming the dimmer switch;

FIG. 15 is a simple diagram of an RF lighting control system that usinga proprietary protocol according to an alternate embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an example embodimentfor programming or controlling the dimmer switch usingproprietary-protocol communications; and

FIG. 17 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an example embodimentfor programming the dimmer switch to corresponding low-end and high-endlimits for a particular lamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustrating theinvention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment that ispresently preferred, in which like numerals represent similar partsthroughout the several views of the drawings, it being understood,however, that the invention is not limited to the specific methods andinstrumentalities disclosed.

FIG. 1 is a simple diagram of a radio-frequency (RF) lighting controlsystem 100 that includes a dimmer switch 110 and a wireless controldevice 120, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.The wireless control device 120 may be any device capable of performingwireless communications, such as, a smart phone (for example, an iPhone®smart phone, an Android® smart phone, or a Blackberry® smart phone), apersonal computer, a laptop, a wireless-capable media device (e.g., MP3player, gaming device, or television), or a tablet device, (for example,an iPad® hand-held computing device), a Wi-Fi orwireless-communication-capable television, or any other suitableInternet-Protocol-enabled device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the wirelesscontrol device 120 may be operable to transmit digital messages in oneor more Internet Protocol packets to the dimmer switch 110. The InternetProtocol (IP) is responsible for addressing hosts and routing datagrams(i.e., packets) from a source host to a destination host across one ormore IP networks. For this purpose, the Internet Protocol defines anaddressing system that has two functions: identifying hosts andproviding a logical location service. This is accomplished by definingstandard datagrams and a standard addressing system.

Each datagram has two components, a header and a payload. The IP headeris tagged with the source IP address, destination IP address, and othermeta-data needed to route and deliver the datagram. The payload is thedata to be transported.

The wireless control device 120 may transmit the digital messages via RFsignals 106 either directly or via a wireless network that includes astandard wireless router 130. For example, the wireless control device120 may transmit the RF signals 106 directly to the dimmer switch 110via a point-to-point communication, such as a Wi-Fi communication link,e.g., an 802.11 wireless local area network (LAN), or other directwireless communication link, e.g., a Wi-MAX communication link or aBluetooth® communication link. This point-to-point communication may beperformed using a standardized communication, e.g., Wi-Fi Direct, or anynon-standardized communication that allows a wireless device to connectto another wireless device without the use of a wireless access point.For example, the wireless control device 120 and/or the dimmer switch110 may download a software access point (AP) that provides a protectedwireless communication between the devices.

The wireless control device 120 may also transmit RF signals 106 to thedimmer switch 110 via a wireless network. The wireless network mayenable wireless communications via one or more wireless communicationslinks, such as a Wi-Fi communications link, a Wi-MAX communicationslink, a Bluetooth® communications link, a cellular communications link,a television white space (TVWS) communication link, or any combinationthereof. For example, the wireless control device 120 may communicatewith a network server via a first wireless communications link (e.g., acellular communications link), while the dimmer switch 110 communicateswith the network server via a second communications link (e.g., a Wi-Ficommunications link). In an alternative embodiment, the wireless controldevice 120 and the dimmer switch 110 may communicate with the networkvia the same type of communication link. The lighting control system 100may also include a femtocell, a Home Node B, and/or other network entityfor facilitating the configuration and operation of the lighting controlsystem and for allowing wireless communications and connection to theInternet.

The dimmer switch 110 may be coupled in series electrical connectionbetween an AC power source 102 and a lighting load 104 for controllingthe amount of power delivered to the lighting load. The dimmer switch110 may be wall-mounted in a standard electrical wallbox, oralternatively implemented as a table-top load control device. The dimmerswitch 110 comprises a faceplate 112 and a bezel 113 received in anopening of the faceplate. The dimmer switch 110 further comprises atoggle actuator 114 and an intensity adjustment actuator 116. Actuationsof the toggle actuator 114 toggle, e.g., alternatingly turn off and on,the lighting load 104. Actuations of an upper portion 116A or a lowerportion 116B of the intensity adjustment actuator 116 may respectivelyincrease or decrease the amount of power delivered to the lighting load104 and thus increase or decrease the intensity of the lighting load 104from a minimum (i.e., low-end) intensity (e.g., approximately 1-10%) toa maximum (i.e., high-end) intensity (e.g., approximately 100%). Aplurality of visual indicators 118, e.g., light-emitting diodes (LEDs),may be arranged in a linear array on the left side of the bezel 113. Thevisual indicators 118 are illuminated to provide visual feedback of theintensity of the lighting load 104. An example of a dimmer switch havinga toggle actuator and an intensity adjustment actuator is described ingreater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,919 (“the 919 patent”), issuedSep. 28, 1993, entitled LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE, the entire disclosureof which is hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatively, the dimmerswitch 110 could be replaced by an electronic switch for simply turningthe lighting load 104 on and off. The electronic switch may include asingle visual indicator, e.g., the middle indicator of the visualindicators 118 of the dimmer switch 110.

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the dimmerswitch 110 may include an optical receiver 119. The optical receiver 119may be used to receive optical signals from the wireless control device120. Optical signals may be free-space optical communications orcommunications via physical connections. For example, free space opticalcommunications may include communications via air, while physicaloptical communications may include communications via optical fibercable or an optical transmission pipe. The optical signals may also beincluded in visible light, e.g., a flashing light, or non-visible light,e.g., infrared, spectrums.

The optical signals may provide instructions for programming and/oradjusting the operating parameters (e.g., the low-end intensity and thehigh-end intensity) of the dimmer switch 110. For example, the opticalsignals may be used to configure the dimmer switch such that the dimmerswitch 110 is operable to receive the RF signals 106 from the wirelesscontrol device 120 as will be described in greater detail below. Theoptical signals may also be used to control or program the lightingconfigurations of the dimmer switch 110. And, though embodimentsdescribed herein may be described with respect to using optical signalsor other signals to program or control a dimmer switch from a wirelesscontrol device, such signals may be used to program or control anydevice that is capable of receiving instructions via such optical orother signals, such as shades, thermostats, plug-in devices, or thelike.

Wireless load control devices are described in greater detail incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,226, issued Nov. 17, 1998,entitled COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLINGAND DETERMINING THE STATUS OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS;U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,728, issued Oct. 12, 2004, entitled SYSTEM FORCONTROL OF DEVICES; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/033,223, filedFeb. 19, 2008, entitled COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR A RADIO-FREQUENCYLOAD CONTROL SYSTEM; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/234,573,filed Sep. 16, 2011, entitled DYNAMIC KEYPAD FOR CONTROLLINGENERGY-SAVINGS SETTINGS OF A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM; the entire disclosuresof which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The wireless control device 120 has a visual display 122, which maycomprise a touch screen having, for example, a capacitive touch paddisplaced overtop the visual display, such that the visual display maydisplay soft buttons that may be actuated by a user. Alternatively, thewireless control device 120 may comprise a plurality of hard buttons(e.g., physical buttons) in addition to the visual display 122. Thewireless control device 120 may download a product control applicationfor allowing the user to control the lighting load 104. In response toactuations of the displayed soft buttons or hard buttons, the wirelesscontrol device 120 transmits digital messages to the dimmer switch 110directly or through other wireless communications described herein. Forexample, the digital messages may be transmitted via Wi-Fi communicationusing the wireless router 130. The dimmer switch 110 may adjust theintensity of the lighting load 104 in response to commands included inthe digital messages, such that the dimmer switch controls the lightingload in response to actuations of the soft buttons or hard buttons ofthe wireless control device 120.

In addition, the wireless control device 120 may be controlled totransmit optical signals, near field communication (NFC) signals, or RFsignals according to a proprietary RF communication protocol (such as,for example, the Clear Connect™ protocol) as described herein. Forexample, the visual display 122 may be controlled to transmit opticalsignals to the optical receiver 119 of the dimmer switch 110 (as will bedescribed in greater detail below). The wireless control device 120 mayalso comprise a camera lens 124 (FIG. 6) and a camera flash lightingsource 126 (FIG. 6), which may also be used to transmit and receiveoptical signals for controlling the lighting load.

The dimmer switch 110 and the wireless control device 120 may both beassigned a unique address for wireless communications described herein.For example, where wireless communications are performed using a Wi-Ficommunication link, a Media Access Control (MAC) address may be assigned(e.g., during manufacture). The wireless control device 120 may connectto the wireless LAN via the wireless router 130 using standardprocedures. The wireless control device 120 is assigned an InternetProtocol (IP) address upon connecting to the wireless LAN. The wirelesscontrol device 120 may store the service set identifier (SSID) and theSSID password of the wireless LAN. After obtaining the IP address, thewireless control device 120 is able to assign an IP address (e.g.,different from the IP address of the wireless control device 120) to thedimmer switch 110. Alternatively, the dimmer switch 110 may be operableto obtain the IP address from the wireless router 130 using, forexample, procedures defined by the Wi-Fi Protected Setup standard.

The dimmer switch 110 may be associated with (e.g., assigned to) thewireless control device 120, such that the wireless control device maytransmit commands for controlling the intensity of the lighting load 104or programming the dimmer switch 110. Such commands may be transmittedto the dimmer switch 110 via the RF signals 106. Digital messagestransmitted to and from the dimmer switch 110 may include, for example,the MAC address and the IP address of the dimmer switch 110. The dimmerswitch 110 is operable to turn the lighting load 104 on and off. Thedimmer switch 110 is also operable to adjust the intensity of thelighting load in response to received digital messages, including theMAC address and the IP address of the dimmer switch, for example. Inaddition, the wireless router 130 may be operable to receive commandsfor controlling the lighting load 104 from the Internet, and maywirelessly transmit corresponding digital messages to the dimmer switch110.

According to an example embodiment, the dimmer switch 110 may beassigned an IP address, an SSID, an SSID password, and/or a software APat manufacture, such that the dimmer switch 110 may act as an AP forother communication devices in a LAN. The wireless control device 120may recognize the dimmer switch 110 as an AP and may connect to the LANvia the dimmer switch 110. For example, the dimmer switch 110 mayconnect to router 130 or may perform the functions of the router 130itself.

The dimmer switch 110 may also connect to the wireless LAN to discoverother dimmer switches (not shown). The dimmer switch 110 may discoverthe other dimmer switches using any discovery protocol, such as Bonjour,Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP), Bluetooth® Service DiscoveryProtocol (SDP), DNS service discovery (DNS-SD), Dynamic HostConfiguration Protocol (DHCP), Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS),Jini for Java objects, Service Location Protocol (SLP), SessionAnnouncement Protocol (SAP) for RTP sessions, Simple Service DiscoveryProtocol (SSDP) for Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), UniversalDescription Discovery and Integration (UDDI) for web services, Web ProxyAutodiscovery protocol (WPAD), Web Services Dynamic Discovery(WS-Discovery), XMPP Service Discovery (XEP-0030), and/or XRDS for XRI,OpenID, OAuth, etc. Upon the dimmer switch 110 discovering one or moreother dimmer switches, the dimmer switch may create a peer-to-peernetwork of dimmer switches capable of communicating with one another.For example, the dimmer switches may communicate programming and/orcontrol instructions received from the wireless control device 120.

The wireless control device 120 may control the lighting load 104 bycommunicating instructions to the dimmer switch 110 via the RF signals106 that cause the dimmer switch 110 to execute control instructionsthat have been pre-programmed on the dimmer switch 110. For example, thedimmer switch 110 may be pre-programmed at manufacture or via an updateto execute the control instructions. The control instructions mayinclude pre-configured settings (e.g., protected or locked lightingpresets), instructions for raising/lowering lighting level, instructionsfor fading, instructions for scheduling, instructions for turning lightson/off, or any other pre-programmed instruction, for example.

The wireless control device 120 may also program the settings (i.e., theoperating parameters) of the dimmer switch 110 (e.g., when the dimmerswitch is in programming mode). For example, the dimmer switch 110 maybe a dimmer switch that may have a limited user interface (UI) or maynot have any user interface. As such, the user interface of the wirelesscontrol device 120 may be used to program the dimmer switch 110. Forexample, various wireless communication links described herein, e.g.,Wi-Fi signals, optical signals, near field communication (NFC) signals,or proprietary-protocol RF signals, may be used to program any of anumber of programmable features provided by the dimmer switch 110. Suchfeatures may be selected via the wireless control device 120. Forexample, the wireless control device 120 may program the dimmer switch110 with such features as protected or locked presets, high-end trim,low-end trim, adjustable delay, fade time, load type, performingcommunications via wireless communication modes (e.g., as describedherein), or being compatible with different lamps. In addition, thewireless control device 120 may be operable to program the dimmer switch110 to change between modes of operation, for example, between aswitching mode, a dimming mode, and/or an electronic timer mode (i.e., acountdown timer mode). The programming signal may be a one-way ortwo-way serial communication with the dimmer switch 110.

A protected preset is a feature that allows the user to lock the presentlight intensity level as a protected preset lighting intensity to whichthe dimmer may set the lighting load 104. For example, when the dimmerswitch 110 is turned on while a protected preset is disabled, the dimmermay set the lighting load 104 to the intensity level at which the dimmerwas set when the lighting load was last turned off. When the dimmerswitch 110 is turned on while protected preset is enabled, the dimmermay set the lighting load 104 to the protected preset intensity level,for example. The protected preset value may be user-programmed. Forexample, the user may select a value from among a plurality of allowablevalues for the protected preset light intensity level. When the lightingload 104 is turned on with protected preset enabled, a processor orcontroller may access a memory in the dimmer switch 110 to retrieve theuser-selected value, and cause the lighting load 104 to be set to theintensity level represented by that value.

High-end trim (i.e., high-end intensity) is a feature that governs themaximum intensity level to which the lighting load 104 may be set by thedimmer switch 110. Values for the high-end trim may range between about60% and about 100% of full intensity, for example. In an exampleembodiment, the high-end trim may be pre-programmed to be about 90% offull intensity. In a dimmer switch 110, high-end trim is a feature thatmay be user-programmed as described herein.

Similarly, low-end trim (i.e., low-end intensity) is a feature thatgoverns the minimum intensity level to which the lighting load 104 maybe set by the dimmer switch 110. Values for the low-end trim may rangebetween about 1% and about 20% of full intensity, for example. In anexample embodiment, the low-end trim may be preprogrammed to be about10% of full intensity. In a dimmer switch 110, low-end trim is a featurethat may be user-programmed as described herein.

Delay-to-off is a feature that causes the lighting load 104 to remain ata certain intensity level for a prescribed period of time before fadingto off. Such a feature may be desirable in certain situations, such as,for example, when a user wishes to turn out bedroom lights beforeretiring, but still have sufficient light to make his way safely to bedfrom the location of the dimmer switch 110 before the lights arecompletely extinguished. Similarly, the night staff of a large buildingmay wish to extinguish ambient lights from a location that is somedistance away from an exit, and may wish to delay the fade to off for aperiod of time sufficient for them to walk safely to the exit.Delay-to-off times may range from about 10 seconds to about 60 secondsfor example. The delay-to-off time may be user-programmed, as describedherein. For example, the user may select a value from among a pluralityof allowable values for the delay-to-off time. When the lighting load isturned off with the delay-to-off feature enabled, the dimmer switch 110may access the user-selected value of delay-to-off feature from memory.The lighting load 104 may remain at the current intensity level for atime represented by the user-selected value of delay-to-off feature.

Fading is a feature whereby the dimmer causes the lighting load 104 tochange from one intensity level to another at a certain rate orplurality of successive rates based on different closures of the toggleswitch or indicated in the instructions received from the wirelesscontrol device 120 and depending on the state of lighting load 104.Examples of fading are described in greater detail in the 919 patent.U.S. Pat. No. 7,071,634, issued Jul. 4, 2006, entitled LIGHTING CONTROLDEVICE HAVING IMPROVED LONG FADE OFF, discloses a lighting controldevice that is capable of activating a long fade off from any lightintensity and is incorporated herein by reference. Any or all of thefeatures that define the fade features may be user-programmed via thewireless control device 120.

Another feature that may be programmed as described herein is load type.The load type may be inductive, resistive, or capacitive. Forwardphase-controlled dimming may be desirable where the load is inductive orresistive; reverse phase-controlled dimming may be desirable where theload is capacitive. Thus, the load type may be defined, at least inpart, by a feature having a value associated with either forward phasecontrol or reverse phase control.

In addition, the dimmer switch 110 may comprise an occupancy sensor ormay be responsive to a remote occupancy sensor, and may store operatingparameters, such as an occupancy sensor sensitivity setting or timeoutvalue that may be programmed by the wireless control device 120. Thewireless control device 120 may also be operable to program the dimmerswitch 110 to operate in one of an occupancy mode and a vacancy mode. Inthe occupancy mode, the dimmer switch 110 operates to turn a controlledlighting load on and off in response to the occupancy sensor. In thevacancy mode, the dimmer switch 110 operates to only turn the lightingload off in response to the occupancy sensor. Examples of occupancy andvacancy sensors are described in greater detail in commonly-assignedU.S. Pat. No. 7,940,167, issued May 10, 2011, entitled BATTERY-POWEREDOCCUPANCY SENSOR; U.S. Pat. No. 8,009,042, issued Aug. 30, 2011,entitled RADIO-FREQUENCY LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM WITH OCCUPANCY SENSING;and U.S. Pat. No. 8,199,010, issued Jun. 12, 2012, entitled METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR CONFIGURING A WIRELESS SENSOR, the entire disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIG. 2 is an example screenshot 200 that may be provided on the wirelesscontrol device 120 when executing a product control application. Thescreenshot 200 includes a name field 210 for displaying a name of thelighting load 104 presently being controlled and an intensity field 212for displaying the present intensity of the controlled lighting load104. The wireless control device 120 displays a plurality of softbuttons and controls for the user to actuate to control the lightingload 104. The same controls may be implemented using hard buttons thatcorrespond to items in the wireless control device 120 display.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless control device 120 displays an onbutton 220 for turning the lighting load 104 on to the maximum intensity(e.g., approximately 100%), an off button 222 for turning the lightingload 104 off, a raise button 224 for raising the intensity of thelighting load 104 by a predetermined amount, and a lower button 226 forlowering the intensity of the lighting load 104 by a predeterminedamount. In addition, the wireless control device 120 displays a virtualslider control 230 having an actuator knob 232 positioned along anelongated vertical slot 234. The user may touch the actuator knob 232and slide the knob up and down to respectively raise and lower theintensities of the lighting load 104. The wireless control device 120additionally displays a scroll bar 236 that is moved horizontally tocause the wireless control device 120 to control other lighting loads104 that may be a part of the lighting control system 100.

In addition to, or alternative to, the soft buttons illustrated in FIG.2, the wireless control device 120 display may enable user control ofthe lighting load 104 via text boxes (e.g., direct entry as a percentageof the maximum intensity), drop boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons, orvoice activation. In another example embodiment, the user may controlthe lighting load 104 by tapping or pressing the wireless control device120 display (e.g., by tapping or holding the wireless device 120 displayto increase or decrease the lighting load 104). The wireless controldevice 120 display may be used to select the areas (e.g., rooms),lighting units (e.g., lamps), or dimmer switches that the user wishes tocontrol with the wireless control device 120. According to anotherexample embodiment, the control device 120 display may include optionsfor the wireless communication link or RF signals 106 upon which theuser may wish to communicate with the dimmer switch 110. The user mayset preferences for the type of wireless communication link or RFsignals 106 upon which the wireless control device 120 communicates withthe dimmer switch 102 based on various factors associated with one ormore wireless communication links, e.g., cost, response time, errorrate, reliability, etc. For example, if one wireless communication linkis more reliable than another, the wireless control device 120 maycommunicate over the more reliable wireless communication link, ifavailable.

FIG. 3 is an example screenshot 300 that may be provided on the wirelesscontrol device 120 upon entering the programming mode for programmingthe dimmer switch 110. Upon entering the programming mode, the wirelesscontrol device 120 may transmit a signal to the dimmer switch 110 to putthe dimmer switch 110 into programming mode. While in programming mode,the wireless control device 120 may provide various options for allowinga user to select features to be programmed on the dimmer switch 110. Forexample, the features may be displayed to a user via the feature display302. The feature display 302 may include drop-down boxes, text boxes,soft buttons, radio buttons, checkboxes, or the like, that may allow auser to enter or select one or more features that the user wishes toprogram on the dimmer switch 110. The one or more features may bedisplayed as options (e.g., a list of features) for being programmed, orthey may be recognized by the wireless control device 120 upon receiptof entry from a user (e.g., via a text box). The user may select the oneor more features for programming by selecting the enter/select featurebutton 304. When the user selects the one or more features, the wirelesscontrol device 120 may transmit instructions to the dimmer switch 110that cause the dimmer switch 110 to be programmed for performing theselected one or more features. For example, the instructions themselvesmay include software that enables the dimmer switch 110 to perform theselected features, or the instructions may trigger the dimmer switch 110to retrieve the software from an external source, such as an externalserver for example.

The user may exit programming mode by selecting the exit button 306. Byexiting the programming mode, the wireless control device 120 may returnto other operating modes and/or transmit a signal to the dimmer switch110 that returns the dimmer switch 110 to its normal operating mode.According to another example embodiment, the wireless control device 120may exit the programming mode after a prescribed timeout period in whichthe wireless control device receives no input commands from the user.

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of the dimmer switch 110. Thedimmer switch 110 comprises a controllably conductive device 410 coupledin series electrical connection between the AC power source 102 and thelighting load 104 for control of the power delivered to the lightingload. The controllably conductive device 410 may comprise a relay orother switching device, or any suitable type of bidirectionalsemiconductor switch, such as, for example, a triac, a field-effecttransistor (FET) in a rectifier bridge, or two FETs in anti-seriesconnection. The controllably conductive device 410 includes a controlinput coupled to a drive circuit 412.

The dimmer switch 110 further comprises a controller 414 coupled to thedrive circuit 412 for rendering the controllably conductive device 410conductive or non-conductive to thus control the power delivered to thelighting load 104. The controller 414 may comprise a microcontroller, aprogrammable logic device (PLD), a microprocessor, an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array(FPGA), or any suitable processing device or control circuit. Azero-crossing detector 415 determines the zero-crossings of the input ACwaveform from the AC power supply 102. A zero-crossing may be the timeat which the AC supply voltage transitions from positive to negativepolarity, or from negative to positive polarity, at the beginning ofeach half-cycle. The controller 414 receives the zero-crossinginformation from the zero-crossing detector 415 and provides the controlinputs to the drive circuit 412 to render the controllably conductivedevice 410 conductive and non-conductive at predetermined times relativeto the zero-crossing points of the AC waveform.

The controller 414 receives inputs from mechanical switches 416 that aremounted on a printed circuit board (not shown) of the dimmer switch 110,and are arranged to be actuated by the toggle actuator 114 and theintensity adjustment actuator 116. The controller 414 also controlslight-emitting diodes 418, which are also mounted on the printed circuitboard. The light emitting diodes 418 may be arranged to illuminate thestatus indicators 118 on the front surface of the dimmer switch 110, forexample, through a light pipe structure (not shown). The controller 414is also coupled to a memory 420 for storage of unique identifiers (e.g.,the MAC address and the IP address) of the dimmer switch 110, the SSIDand the SSID password of the wireless LAN, instructions for controllingthe lighting load 104, programming instructions for communicating via awireless communication link, or the like. The memory 420 may beimplemented as an external integrated circuit (IC) or as an internalcircuit of the controller 414. A power supply 422 generates adirect-current (DC) voltage Vcc for powering the controller 414, thememory 420, and other low-voltage circuitry of the dimmer switch 110.

The dimmer switch 110 further includes a wireless communication module430 for transmitting and receiving the RF signals 106 to and from thewireless control device 120 and/or the wireless router 130. For example,the wireless communication module 430 may be configured to communicatevia a Wi-Fi communication link, a Wi-MAX communication link, a ClearConnect™ communication link, and/or a Bluetooth® communication link.When the wireless communication module 430 comprises a Wi-Fi module, thecontroller 414 is operable to control the lighting load 104 in responseto received digital messages in Wi-Fi packets (i.e., Internet Protocolpackets received via the Wi-Fi signals). The wireless communicationmodule 430 may comprise an RF transceiver and an antenna. Examples ofantennas for wall-mounted dimmer switches are described in greaterdetail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,103, issued Nov. 9, 1999, and U.S. Pat.No. 7,362,285, issued Apr. 22, 2008, both entitled COMPACT RADIOFREQUENCY TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING ANTENNA AND CONTROL DEVICEEMPLOYING SAME, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

The dimmer switch 110 further comprises an optical module 440, such asan optical signal receiving circuit for example. The optical module 440may be optically coupled to the optical receiver 119. The optical module440 may be coupled to the optical receiver 119 on the front surface ofthe dimmer switch 110, for example, through a light pipe (not shown),such that the optical module 440 may receive the optical signals fromthe wireless control device 120 via the light pipe. For example, theoptical module 440 may comprise a photodiode (not shown) that isresponsive to the optical signals transmitted by the wireless controldevice 120. In addition, the photodiode of the optical module 440 may becontrolled by the controller 414, so as to transmit optical signals tothe wireless control device 120 (as will be described in greater detailbelow), for example.

The wireless device 120 may control the controllably conductive device410 using the optical signals and/or the digital messages received viathe RF signals 106. According to an example embodiment, the controller414 may determine the module from which the signals are received, e.g.,from the wireless communication module 430 or the optical module 440,and the controllably conductive device 410 may be controlled based onthose signals. The controller 414 may also transmit messages to thewireless control device 120 via optical signals or digital messagestransmitted via the RF signals 106. For example, the controller 414 ofthe dimmer switch 110 may be used to transmit digital messages to thewireless control device 120 via wireless communication.

The digital messages may include alerts and/or feedback and statusinformation regarding the lighting load 104. The digital messages mayalso include error messages or indications as to whether the dimmerswitch 110 is able to communicate via a wireless communication link orRF signal 106, for example.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the wireless control device 120 showing anexample location of a portion 240 of the display screen 122 that may beused for transmitting optical signals. The wireless control device 120may be operable to transmit a digital message via the optical signals byalternating a portion 240 of the display screen 122 between black andwhite (or two other contrasting colors) to modulate the light output of(i.e., flash) the portion of the display screen. Instead of turninglight/dark transitioning of pixels on the display, the backlight may beon/off transitioned for increased bandwidth. While FIG. 5 illustrates aportion 240 of the display screen 122 for transmitting optical signals,other portions of the display screen or the entire display screen mayalso be used for transmitting the optical signals.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the display screen 122 of thewireless control device 120 directed towards the optical receiver 119 ofthe dimmer switch 110 while the wireless control device is transmittingthe optical signals. The portion 240 of the display screen 122 may beheld close to the optical receiver 119 while the wireless control device120 is transmitting the optical signals to ensure that the opticalmodule 440 receives the optical signals. The proximity of the wirelesscontrol device 120 to the optical receiver 119 may be close enough forsuccessfully transmitting the optical signal based on ambient light, thesignal-to-noise ratio, error coding, etc. The wireless control device120 may detect the dimmer switch 110 for performing optical signalcommunications. For example, the wireless control device 120 maycomprise a proximity detector and may begin transmitting the opticalsignals to the optical module 440 when the wireless control devicedetects that the wireless control device is a predetermined distancefrom the dimmer switch 110.

According to another example embodiment, the dimmer switch 110 may beequipped with an electrostatic foam stylus tip, which is located apreset distance from the photodiode, for example. The wireless controldevice 120 may detect the presence of the stylus tip, correlating thetouch location with accelerometer data, to yield the specific displaylocation in which to transmit the data for example. An application onthe wireless control device 120 may use the built in proximity sensor aswell as the stylus tip to ensure the display flashes when touching thedimmer switch 110 to be programmed. Alternatively, the proximity of thewireless control device 120 may be detected by the dimmer switch 110 andan indication may be transmitted to the wireless control device 120 viathe digital message described herein. According to another embodiment,the optical module 440 could be located so as to receive the opticalsignals through the light pipe structure located between the statusindicators 118 and the LEDs 418, such that the separate optical receiver119 is not required on the front surface of the dimmer switch 110.

Additional bandwidth may be achieved via a tricolor red/green/blue (RGB)photodiode receiver assembly for an approximately three-times increasein bandwidth. For example, the portion 240 of the display screen 122 maybe changed between different colors (e.g., red, green, and blue) or evenmore colors. Multiple bits may be encoded into the transitions from onespecific color to another. Transfer rates may be as high as 60 bits/secusing the RGB photodiode receiver, for example.

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, thewireless control device 120 is able to execute the product controlapplication to assign a unique identifier (e.g., the IP address) to thedimmer switch 110, before associating the wireless control device 120with the dimmer switch, for example. The wireless control device 120chooses a unique identifier for the dimmer switch 110 that is differentthan the unique identifier of the wireless control device 120 or anyother devices on the wireless LAN. The unique identifier may be storedat the wireless control device 120, the dimmer switch 110, or on anyother network entity, for example. The portion 240 of the display screen122 may be held close to the optical receiver 119 before the wirelesscontrol device 120 begins transmitting the unique identifier via opticalsignals. The display screen 122 may also be used to transmit the SSIDand the SSID password to the dimmer switch 110 via the optical signals.When the dimmer switch 110 successfully receives the unique identifier,the SSID, and/or the SSID password from the wireless control device 120,the dimmer switch 110 may connect to the local wireless network. Forexample, the dimmer switch 110 may connect to a wireless LAN andtransmit the MAC address of the dimmer switch to the wireless controldevice 120. The dimmer switch 110 may provide an indication (e.g., blinkthe lighting load 104 or provide another indication) that the dimmerswitch has successfully connected to the wireless LAN. The wirelesscontrol device 120 may transmit and receive the RF signals 106 to andfrom the dimmer switch 110 to control the lighting load 104.

According to another alternate embodiment of the present invention, thecamera lens 124 and the camera flash light source 126 may be used totransmit and receive optical signals to and from the optical module 440.FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the camera lens 124 and the cameraflash light source 126 of the wireless control device 120 directedtowards the optical receiver 119 of the dimmer switch 110 according toembodiments of the present invention described herein. The camera flashlight source 126 (which may comprise an LED) is controlled to generatethe optical signals to thus transmit the digital messages to the dimmerswitch 110. In addition, the photodiode of the optical module 440 of thedimmer switch 110 may be controlled to transmit optical signals. Theoptical signals may be received by the camera lens 124 of the wirelesscontrol device 120. Accordingly, a two-way optical communication linkmay be established between the dimmer switch 110 and the wirelesscontrol device 120.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the display screen 122 may display a targetingimage (e.g., cross-hairs 250). The target image may assist the user inlining up the camera lens 124, the camera flash light source 126, or theportion 240 of the display screen 122 with the optical receiver 119 ofthe dimmer switch 110. The display screen 122 may display a message tothe user upon making a determination that the camera lens 124 and thecamera flash light source 119 are aligned with the optical receiver 119of the dimmer switch 110. The determination may be made by the wirelesscontrol device 120 itself, or the wireless control device 120 may makethe determination based on an indication received from the dimmer switch110. The indication may be received via an optical or other wirelesssignal for example.

FIG. 9 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an example embodimentfor optically programming or controlling a dimmer switch 110 via awireless control device 120. As shown in FIG. 9, a programming orcontrolling procedure 900 may be started at 902 and the wireless controldevice 120 may launch an application at 904. The application may displaya user interface on the visual display 122 of the wireless controldevice 120. The application may enable the adjustment of the lightingload 104 or programming of the dimmer switch 110 via the opticalsignals. For example, the application may determine instructions forcontrolling or settings for programming the dimmer switch 110 at 806.Various settings or instructions may be input and/or stored to thewireless control device 120 application which may be transmitted to thedimmer switch 110, for example, via an optical signal at 908.

When the wireless control device 120 application completes thetransmission, the dimmer switch 110 and/or the wireless control device120 may provide an indication that the transmission has been completed.For example, the wireless control device 120 may receive an indicationor message from dimmer switch 110 and/or provide an indication (e.g.,audio alert, visual alert, or vibration) to a user at 910. According toanother example embodiment, the dimmer switch 110 may display a messageat the dimmer display or provide an indication via the lighting load 104(e.g., blink the lamp associated with the dimmer) when the transmissionhas been received and/or processed. After the indication has beenprovided, the programming or controlling procedure 900 may end at 912.

According to an example embodiment, the wireless control device 120 andthe application may be used to setup custom lighting schedules at thedimmer switch 110, such as lighting timer schedules, for example. Theuser interface provided on the display screen 122 of the wirelesscontrol device 120 may provide an easy-to-use interface for configuringthe timeclock event times and actions of the timeclock schedule. Afterthe timeclock schedule is configured, the wireless control device 120may transmit (e.g., via the optical signals) the information definingthe timeclock schedule to the dimmer switch 110, which may be stored inthe memory 420 in the dimmer switch 110. In addition, the wirelesscontrol device 120 may transmit the present time of day (and possiblethe present time of year) to the dimmer switch 110 when transmitting thetimeclock schedule information to thus calibrate the internal clock ofthe dimmer switch 110.

To transmit the timeclock schedule information, the application mayenter a timer program mode and may be placed in close proximity to thedimmer switch 110. The wireless control device 120 may transmit theschedule data to the dimmer switch 110, for example, optically viaoff/on transitions of the display, which may be similar to the low/hitransitions of a standard serial data stream. When data transfer iscomplete (e.g., checksums match) the dimmer switch 110 may provide anindication (e.g., audio signal beeps). If data transfer is notsuccessful the programming process may repeat (e.g., 1-n times). If theprocess fails on the n^(th) attempt an error message (e.g., tone) mayindicate a failed programming attempt. The dimmer switch 110 may run theschedules as programmed on the control device 120 application.Additionally, the control device 120 may run the schedules informing theuser of the next scheduled event.

According to an example embodiment, the wireless control device 120 andthe application may be used to program the dimmer switch 110 forwireless communication (e.g., Wi-Fi communication) via the local areanetwork. The user may use the application to select a desired router orlocal area network for performing Wi-Fi communications via the dimmerswitch 110. For example, the user may enter the name of the dimmerswitch 110 for communicating on the local area network. The wirelesscontrol device 120 application prompts the user to select a programbutton, at which time the user may place the wireless control device 120close to or against the dimmer switch 110 for programming via theoptical signal. The optical signal may be received at the dimmer switch110 via the optical module 440. The wireless control device 120 maytransmit the acquired data to the dimmer switch 110, for example,optically via the black/white transitions of the display. Once thedimmer switch 110 successfully receives the data, the dimmer switch mayjoin the network and obtain an IP address, which may become the staticIP address of the dimmer switch. Once the dimmer switch 110 has an IPaddress, the dimmer switch sends a TCP/IP sockets message that includesthe IP address, name, and/or serial number of the dimmer switch to theIP address of the wireless control device 120. In addition, the dimmerswitch 110 may receive the IP address from the wireless control device120 via the black/white transitions of the display.

FIG. 10 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an example embodimentfor programming or controlling a dimmer switch 110 using a Wi-Fi signal.As shown in FIG. 10, a programming or control procedure 1000 may bestarted at 1002 and the wireless control device 120 may launch anapplication that displays a user interface and enables Wi-Ficommunication of user inputs from the wireless control device 120 to thedimmer switch 110 at 1004. The wireless communication module 430 of thedimmer switch 110 may comprise a Wi-Fi module, such as a Wi-Fi receiverfor example, to enable Wi-Fi communications. At 1006, the wirelesscontrol device 120 may assign a unique identifier (e.g., IP addressand/or an SSID and the corresponding password) to the dimmer switch 110.The wireless control device 120 may transmit the unique identifier tothe dimmer switch 110 at 1008, for example, via optical signals asdescribed above. The application may determine instructions or settingsfor programming or controlling the dimmer switch 110 at 1010. Varioussettings or instructions may be input and/or stored to the wirelesscontrol device 120 application which may be transmitted (e.g., via alocal area network or point-to-point communication) to the dimmer switch110 via a Wi-Fi signal at 1012. When the wireless control device 120completes the transmission, the dimmer switch 110 and/or the wirelesscontrol device 120 may provide an indication that the transmission hasbeen completed. For example, the wireless control device 120 may receivean indication or message from dimmer switch 110 and/or provide anindication (e.g., audio alert, visual alert, or vibration) to a user at1014. After the indication has been provided, the programming orcontrolling procedure 1000 may end at 1016.

According to an example embodiment, the Wi-Fi signal may include anon-standard Wi-Fi signal used to communicate via a vendor-specificproprietary access point. In this embodiment, the dimmer switch 110 mayreceive Wi-Fi communications via a vendor-specific beacon implementing avendor-specific protocol. Using the vendor-specific beacon, vendorproprietary information may be included in the Wi-Fi signal, forexample, as embedded information in a portion of the beacon managementframe. The commands may be embedded in the beacon management frame usingactive and directed probe request/response for example.

FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram of a dimmer switch 1110 accordingto an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The dimmer switch1110 is identical to the dimmer switch 110 as shown in FIG. 4. However,the dimmer switch 1110 comprises an NFC module 1140 for receiving NFCsignals from the wireless control device 120. The NFC module 1140 iscoupled to a memory 1120 for storing operating parameters of the dimmerswitch 1110. The memory 1120 may comprise, for example, anelectrically-erasable programmable memory (EEPROM) that may be writtento without the use of power (e.g., part number M24LR64-R manufactured byST Microelectronics). The NFC module 1140 may also be coupled to acontroller 1114, which may be operable to control the controllablyconductive device 410 to thus control the lighting load 104 in responseto the NFC signals.

FIG. 12 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an example embodimentfor programming or controlling the dimmer switch 1110 using NFC signals.As shown in FIG. 12, a programming or control procedure 1200 may bestarted at 1202 and the wireless control device 120 may launch anapplication at 1204. The application may displays a user interface onthe visual display 122 of the wireless control device and enablesreceipt of NFC signals from the wireless control device 120 to thedimmer switch 1110. The application may determine instructions orsettings for programming or controlling the dimmer switch 1110 at 1206.Various settings or instructions may be input and/or stored to thewireless control device 120 application which may be transmitted to thedimmer switch 1110 via the NFC signals at 1108. The wireless controldevice 120 may be moved close to the dimmer switch 110 for transmissionof the NFC signals. When the wireless control device 120 completes thetransmission of the NFC signals, the dimmer switch 1110 and/or thewireless control device 120 may provide an indication that thetransmission has been completed. For example, the wireless controldevice 120 may receive an indication or message from dimmer switch 1210and/or provide an indication to a user at 1210. After the indication hasbeen provided, the programming or controlling procedure 1200 may end at1212.

According to an alternate embodiment, the NFC signals may be transmittedto the dimmer switch 1110 to program the dimmer switch with operatingparameters when an airgap switch (not shown) of the dimmer switch 1110is opened as shown in the simplified flow diagram of FIG. 13. As shownin FIG. 13, a programming procedure 1300 may be started at 1302 and thewireless control device 120 may launch an application at 1304. The userdetermines settings for programming the dimmer switch 1110 using theapplication at 1306 and then opens the airgap switch of the dimmerswitch at 1308, such that the controller 1114 is unpowered. After theairgap switch is opened at 1308, the wireless control device 120 ismoved close to the dimmer switch 1110 for transmission of the NFCsignals at 1310. When the wireless control device 120 completes thetransmission of the NFC signals, the wireless control device 120provides an indication that the transmission was completed at 1312. Theuser closes the airgap switch of the dimmer switch 1110 at 1314, afterwhich the dimmer switch reboots with the new operating parameters at1316. The dimmer switch 1110 blinks the lighting load 104 at 1318 if thedimmer switch was updated correctly, before the programming procedure1300 ends at 1320.

Opening the airgap switch during the programming procedure 1300 helps toisolate the dimmer switch 1110 that is being programmed from otherdimmer switches that may be installed near that dimmer switch (e.g.,ganged with the dimmer switch in the same electrical wallbox), such thatthe other dimmer switches are not programmed by mistake. For example,the controller 1114 may prevent the NFC module 1140 from writing to thememory 1120 when the controller is powered. However, when the controller1114 is unpowered, the controller will stop preventing the NFC modulefrom writing to the memory 1120.

The dimmer switch 1110 may be programmed, via the wireless controldevice 120 for example, to the corresponding low-end and high-endintensities that provide for optimum operation of a particular lamp froma particular manufacturer. Since the operation of a lamp can vary fromone lamp to the next (particularly for screw-in compact fluorescentlamps and screw-in light-emitting diode lamps), the wireless controldevice 120 may retrieve the appropriate the low-end and high-endintensities that correspond to a particular lamp. The information may beretrieved by scanning a barcode on a packaging of the lamp (e.g., usinga camera of a smart phone) and then reading the low-end and high-endintensities from the memory 1120 or obtaining low-end and high-endintensities via the Internet, for example. After the wireless controldevice 120 determines the low-end and high-end intensities of theparticular lamp from the retrieved information, the control device 120programs the dimmer with the appropriate low-end and high-endintensities for the particular lamp. Alternatively, the wireless controldevice 120 may be operable to program only one of the high-end andlow-end intensities or another operating parameter after scanning thebarcode of the lamp.

FIG. 14 is a simplified flow diagram of a programming procedure 1400 forprogramming the low-end and high-end intensities of the dimmer switch1110 by scanning a barcode of a particular lamp. The programmingprocedure 1400 is started at 1402 and the wireless control device 120launches an application at 1404. The user then scans the barcode on thepackaging of the lamp at 1406 using, for example, the camera of thewireless control device 120. The application on the wireless controldevices 120 obtains the new high-end and/or low-end intensity, forexample, from memory or via the Internet at 1408, and then transmits thenew high-end and/or low-end intensity to the dimmer switch 1110 via theNFC signals at 1410. When the wireless control device 120 completes thetransmission of the NFC signals, the dimmer switch 1110 and/or thewireless control device 120 provides an indication that the transmissionhas been completed at 1412 and the programming procedure 1400 ends at1114. While the programming procedure 1400 of FIG. 14 is shown with thewireless control device 120 transmitting NFC signals to the dimmerswitch 1110, the wireless control device 120 could alternativelytransmit the new high-end and/or low-end intensity to the dimmer switchusing Internet Protocol packets or optical signals as shown anddescribed above.

According to an example embodiment, the wireless control device 120application may use the camera lens 124 (FIG. 6) and a camera flashlighting source 126 (FIG. 6) to take a photograph of a lamp forprogramming the dimmer switch 1110. The dimmer switch 1110 may beprogrammed with the corresponding low-end and high-end limits for thephotographed lamp. For example, the wireless control device 120 maytransmit commands to the dimmer switch 1110 to program the lamp with thelow-end and high-end intensities. The control device 120 may analyze thephotograph and perform a look-up to determine the limits for thephotographed lamp. The look-up may be performed locally or by retrievinginformation from an external source (e.g., external server) usinginformation obtained during the analysis. According to anotherembodiment, the control device 120 may send the photograph of the lampto the external source (e.g., external server) to retrieve the low-endand high-end limit information for the photographed lamp.

FIG. 15 is a simple diagram of an RF lighting control system 1500comprising a dimmer switch 1510, a wireless control device 1520, and agateway device 1540 according to an alternate embodiment. The wirelesscontrol device 1520 may be operable to transmit RF signals 106 includingInternet Protocol packets to the gateway device 1540 via the wirelessrouter 130. The gateway device 1540 is then operable to transmit digitalmessage according to a proprietary RF communication protocol (such as,for example, the Clear Connect™ protocol) to the dimmer switch 1510 viaRF signals 1506. The dimmer switch 1510 includes a wirelesscommunication module operable to receive digital messages according tothe proprietary RF communication protocol via the RF signals 1506. Inaddition, a communication dongle (not shown) could be connected to thewireless control device 1520 to allow for direct communication betweenthe wireless control device 1520 and the dimmer switch 1510 using theproprietary RF communication protocol. For example, the communicationdongle could be plugged into a headphone jack on the wireless controldevice 1520.

FIG. 16 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an example embodimentfor programming or controlling the dimmer switch 1510 using theproprietary RF communication protocol. As shown in FIG. 16, aprogramming or control procedure 1600 may be started at 1602 and thewireless control device 1520 may receive the communication dongle at1604. At 1606, the wireless control device 1520 may launch anapplication for sending user input and instructions using theproprietary RF communication protocol. The dimmer switch 1510 may beplaced into a programming mode for receiving the RF signals 1506according to the proprietary RF communication protocol and the user mayselect a dimmer from a list on the wireless control device 1520. Theapplication may determine instructions or settings for programming orcontrolling the dimmer switch 1510 at 1608.

Various settings or instructions may be input and/or stored to thewireless control device 1520 application which may be transmitted to thedimmer switch 1510 settings or instructions may be transmitted using theproprietary RF communication protocol at 1610. According to an exampleembodiment, the transmission at 1608 may be performed via a directcommunication between the wireless control device 1520 and the dimmerswitch 1510 using the communication dongle. When the wireless controldevice 1520 application completes the transmission, the dimmer switch1510 and/or the wireless control device 1520 may provide an indicationthat the transmission has been completed. For example, the wirelesscontrol device 1520 may receive an indication or message from dimmerswitch 1510 and/or provide an indication to a user at 1612. After theindication has been provided, the programming or control procedure mayend at 1614.

According to an alternative embodiment, the transmission at 1610 may beperformed via multiple communications, such as anon-proprietary-protocol communication (e.g., Wi-Fi) between thewireless control device 1520 and the gateway device 1540 and aproprietary-protocol communication from the gateway device 1540 to thedimmer switch 1510, for example. In this embodiment, the communicationdongle may not be used or even received at 1604.

FIG. 17 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an example embodimentfor programming the dimmer switch 1510 using the wireless control device1520 to have an appropriate low-end intensity for a particular lamp. Asshown in FIG. 17, a programming procedure 1700 may be started at 1702and the wireless control device 120 may launch an application at 1704that displays a user interface for configuring the dimmer switch 1510 tothe corresponding limits for a particular lamp. The dimmer switch 1510may be placed into a programming mode (e.g., pressing or holding abutton on the dimmer switch). The dimmer switch 1510 may repetitivelytransmit out a “programming mode” digital message that may be receivedby the wireless control device 1520 at 1706. The wireless control device1520 may display the information regarding the dimmer switch 1510 thatis received in the programming message on the visual display 122 (e.g.,a list of dimmer switches). The wireless control device 1520 receives auser selection of the dimmer switch 1510 from the list of dimmerswitches at 1708.

The user then points the camera lens 124 (FIG. 6) of the wirelesscontrol device 1520 at the lamp being controlled by the dimmer switch1510 and actuates a start button displayed on the visual display 122 at1710. The wireless control device 1520 may then transmit commands to thedimmer switch 1510 at 1712 to control the intensity of the lamp to afirst intensity (e.g., approximately 50%400%). The dimmer switch 1510then slowly begins to decrease the intensity of the lamp towards thelow-end intensity at 1714. When the dimmer switch 1510 tries to controlthe intensity of the lamp below the lowest intensity to which the lampmay be controlled, the lamp may begin to flicker. The application on thewireless control device 1520 may use the camera lens 124 (FIG. 6) andthe camera flash lighting source 126 (FIG. 6) to detect the flicker inthe lamp. When the flicker has been detected at 1716, the wirelesscontrol device 1520 may transmit a command to the dimmer switch 1510 at1718 to begin slowly increasing the intensity of the lamp. When thewireless control device 1520 detects that the lamp has stoppedflickering at 1720, the wireless control device 1520 may transmit acommand to the dimmer switch 1510 at 1722 to stop adjusting theintensity of the lamp. The dimmer switch 1520 then stores the presentintensity of the lamp as a new low-end intensity at 1724, before theprogramming procedure 1700 ends at 1726. When the wireless controldevice 1520 application completes the programming, the dimmer switch1510 and/or the wireless control device 1520 may provide an indicationthat the load limit programming has been completed.

While the present application has been described with reference to thedimmer switches 110, 1110, 1510, and the wireless control devices 120,1520, the concepts of the present invention could be applied to anycontrol devices that are operable to communicate with each other, suchas, for example, dimming ballasts for driving gas-discharge lamps;light-emitting diode (LED) drivers for driving LED light sources;screw-in luminaires including integral dimmer circuits and incandescentor halogen lamps; screw-in luminaires including integral ballastcircuits and compact fluorescent lamps; screw-in luminaires includingintegral LED drivers and LED light sources; electronic switches,controllable circuit breakers, or other switching devices for turningappliances on and off; plug-in load control devices, controllableelectrical receptacles, or controllable power strips for eachcontrolling one or more plug-in loads; motor control units forcontrolling motor loads, such as ceiling fans or exhaust fans; driveunits for controlling motorized window treatments or projection screens;motorized interior or exterior shutters; thermostats for a heatingand/or cooling systems; temperature control devices for controllingsetpoint temperatures of HVAC systems; air conditioners; compressors;electric baseboard heater controllers; controllable dampers; humiditycontrol units; dehumidifiers; water heaters; pool pumps; televisions;computer monitors; audio systems or amplifiers; generators; electricchargers, such as electric vehicle chargers; an alternative energycontrollers; occupancy sensors, vacancy sensors, daylight sensors,temperature sensors, humidity sensors, security sensors, proximitysensors, keypads, battery-powered remote controls, key fobs, cellphones, smart phones, tablets, personal digital assistants, personalcomputers, timeclocks, audio-visual controls, safety devices, andcentral control transmitters.

Although the present invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modificationsand other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It ispreferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by thespecific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.Additionally, the embodiments described herein may be implemented as aset of computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readablemedium, such as a random-access or read-only memory for example. Suchcomputer-executable instructions may be executed by a processor ormicrocontroller, such as a microprocessor, within the dimmer switch 110or the wireless control device 120, for example.

What is claimed is:
 1. A load control device for controlling powerdelivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the loadcontrol device comprising: a controllably conductive device adapted tobe coupled in series electrical connection between the source and theload; a controller operatively coupled to a control input of thecontrollably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductivedevice conductive and non-conductive; and a near-field communications(NFC) module operatively coupled to the controller and operable toreceive at least one NFC signal for programming operating parameters ofthe load control device, wherein the controller is operable to controlthe controllably conductive device to control the power delivered to theload based on the operating parameters of the load control device.